Salvage therapy of refractory and relapsed acute leukemia with high dose mitoxantrone and high dose cytarabine

We have assessed the outcome of 66 refractory and relapsed acute leukemia p atients treated with high dose mitoxantrone and cytarabine. Therapy consist ed of a total dose of 40-60 mg/m(2) mitoxantrone and 3 g/m(2) of cytarabine daily on 5 consecutive days. A total of 28 patients were treated for prima ry resistant and 38 patients for early or late relapsed leukemia. A total o f 35 patients achieved CR. Four patients died during the induction course. Toxicity was acceptable and comparable to other salvage regimens. The media n disease-free and overall survivals were 4 and 6 months, respectively. Alt hough this regimen is effective in achieving remission in refractory leukem ia, its duration is short. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.